Cargo or Baggage Handler

What is a Cargo or Baggage Handler?

Duties

To be successful as a baggage handler, you must perform the following duties:

• Actively work towards keep a clean and organised office, warehouse and counter space, which also involves removing snow or ice on walkways and docks.
• Monitor the activities of staff members, contractual workers and visitors with an eye on any security breaches, non-compliance with site security protocols or suspicious behaviour.
• Operate, drive or maintain various equipment such as tow bars, conveyor belts, lavatory service trucks, aircraft ground power units, baggage carts, passenger vans and air stairs.
• Provide assistance to ramp service staff by ensuring the availability of special assistance vehicles like wheelchairs, strollers and check-in luggage at the time of departure and delivery to passengers on arrival.
• Day In The Life

Working in the role of a baggage handler can mean different kinds of duties based on the company or airport you work for. As a valuable part of the grounds crew, all baggage handlers receive training to work alongside large and small teams to ensure that airline baggage is safely loaded or unloaded from specified aircraft either by manually hauling baggage or driving baggage carts.

If you join work at a smaller airport, additional tasks may involve meeting the airplane, directly communicating with the pilot via wireless radio to bring it to a parking area and towing the aircraft if necessary. Strong communication skills, advanced English skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities is essential, since you will sometimes interact with various passengers and pilots to relay important communication. If you are directly employed by a ground services company, you may have to provide assistance with regard to de-icing and cleaning airplanes, as well as keeping runways clear of any debris or snow.

Work Schedule

Working as a baggage handler requires you to be flexible and adapt easily to irregular hours and last-minute schedule updates. Most positions require shift work and you need to be on call whether it is day, evening night or weekend, depending on the assigned shift. In case you are lucky and become part of a union, you will work shifts ranging between 8 to 11 hours long in a compressed work week period. Thus, you would be working three days then taking another three off or something similar.

Much of the work requires being outdoors in all types of weather, and you will be moving between buildings around an airport, warehouses, aircraft holds, etc. Most baggage handlers have to wear protective gear like safety footwear, high visibility clothing and ear defenders.

Growth Of The Job

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that job opportunities in the hand labourer and material movers’ industry, including baggage handlers, will be at an average rate of 5% between 2014-2024. Due to rising number of people using airports and their associated baggage or cargo, work opportunities are expected to greatly increase overtime. Once you gain enough experience, you will quickly progress to positions in supervisory management or passenger handling, such as a lead ramp hand or baggage handler supervisor. Some airline companies often promote internally, providing a managerial role to existing employees that display superior leadership and management skills.

Typical Employers

In general, baggage handlers work directly for different airlines, airports or government authorities.